Review of Super (2010) by Ankur D — 30 Jan 2012

Super wants to be a movie that, show us the absurdity of normal human being transform himself into a superhero, just like Kick Ass and Watchmen, showing us the repercussions and benefits of it. However this movie doesn't quite live up to it since many moments in the movie are paired with an uneven tone.

Super starts out with Rainn Wilson's character, sharing two of his favourite moments in his life, one getting married to his lover, played by Liv Tyler, and helping a police officer catch a thief. Soon we learn that his wife isn't quite plain and morally wholesome as he is, she has fallen into relapse of her drug problem, helped by Kevin Bacon's sly and horrid character. To save his wife from Kevin Bacon, Rainn Wilson creates a superhero, after God gives him a sign to, and soon starts his crusade against the drug dealing, child molesting, and thievery ridden streets.

Super does however have some thing going for it, one is the performances, I did not see one bad performance in this movie even Frank who after dawning the Crimson Bolt mask begins to delve into a dark campaign against crime and evil. Kevin bacon plays the unlovable gangster, Ellen Page plays an eccentric comic book nerd who decides to help Frank as his sidekick, and so does Liv Tyler. However the constant tonal shift and an decrepit script, makes me turn away and start to care less about these characters. Though it presents itself as a dark comedy, and one who says different is a fool, it can't support itself as scenes switch between funny and plain bizarre.

4.5/10.